Patriots quarterback Tom Brady defended receiver Randy Moss, whose effort has come under question by Carolina Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble.
“I think everyone takes liberty to say whatever they want to say in a situation like yesterday. I’ve seen plenty of plays made on Chris Gamble too over the course of the season,” Brady said during his weekly appearance on the “Dennis & Callahan Show” on sports radio WEEI.
“When guys play Randy, they want to show everyone what they can do. I guess they came out of the game pretty confident. Randy is one of the best players in the history of the NFL. When it doesn’t go perfect out there, everyone wants to jump on Randy.
"It’s all of us, and we all have to do a better job. I’m real proud of the way we won, and the way we made some pretty great plays there in the third quarter, and in the fourth quarter we had some big kicks from special teams and some big sacks on defense. There is a lot to be encouraged about. One down, and three to go.”
A few more sound bites from Brady on WEEI:
(On his conversation on the sideline with Moss): “He is one of the favorite guys I’ve ever played with. He’s one of my good friends on the team. I’m always trying to keep everyone motivated, whether it’s the receivers or the offensive linemen. I know when we don’t make good plays, when I throw interceptions or there are dropped passes and fumbles, I’m always trying to go over and pump the other guy up. It’s easy to get down on yourself, and it’s always important to go back out there and keep battling too. We did that definitely at times yesterday. Randy has definitely done that over the course of his career. He has to, because it doesn’t always go right. We didn’t certainly play our best game on offense, but we won and that’s what is most important.”
(On if the team needs more from Moss over the next three weeks): “We’ve gotten a lot from him all year. He’s one of the top receivers in the league right now. He’s up there in yards and catches and touchdowns. Every game-plan that the defense comes up with is trying to stop Randy Moss. They all say ‘OK, we have to stop Randy Moss.’”
(On the first-quarter interception in which it appeared Moss didn’t finish his route): “There are always things that come up with receivers and quarterbacks. The quarterback, you throw it to a place where you think the guy is going to be, and Randy saw something, and he went to the place where he thought the ball was going to be. I don’t think you blame Randy on that. I’m the ultimate one responsible with the football. I hate games where I throw interceptions, especially against a team like that, a turnover-driven team.”